The Playbook Podcast

 When we talk to European diplomats and officials, they all say the same thing — the Biden presidency is a “sigh of relief” after the “near-death experience” of Trump. This week we checked in with the former U.S. ambassador to the EU, Anthony Gardner, about Biden’s first foreign trip.

Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

VP Kamala Harris' trip to Guatemala and Mexico — like just about every foreign trip by a president or VP — was a mix of policy and politics. On the policy, her aides, her allies and those in the immigration advocacy space tell us she did what she was supposed to do. On the politics, they admit her performance could have been smoother.

Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

In Washington, relationships come and go. In a quick succession of phone calls on Tuesday, Joe Biden exited negotiations with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and started them with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). Could a compromise on infrastructure be on the way? 

Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

A host of Black and civil rights leaders will visit Sen. Joe Manchin to discuss voting rights this morning — two days after the West Virginia moderate announced his opposition to Democrats’ top legislative priority on the matter, the For the People Act (aka H.R. 1/S. 1). Those who know Manchin tell us the senator’s mind isn’t exactly open to persuasion as he heads into this meeting, so, we asked some of the participants how they plan to approach it. Here’s what we heard back. 

Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

We interrupt infrastructure summer to bring you two weeks of foreign policy-focused events — a show of force, then a showdown with Putin.

Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook.
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

If you thought President Joe Biden’s offer to keep the corporate tax rate at 21% might yield a breakthrough on infrastructure…not so much.

Raghu Manavalan is the new host of POLITICO's Playbook

Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Here's what Playbook was able to learn about Shelley Moore Capito's one-on-one meeting with President Joe Biden over a possible infrastructure deal. 

Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

By elevating the infrastructure negotiations with the GOP to a one-on-one meeting with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), President Joe Biden is risking taking on more blame if talks fall through in the end. 

Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

A century after the Tulsa Race Massacre, President Joe Biden will head to Tulsa today to offer words of healing, once again donning his hat as sympathizer-in-chief.

Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Senate Republicans are gearing up to initiate their first filibuster of the Biden administration. 

Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. 
Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.